In a paper published in SCIENCE CHINA Earth Sciences, an international team of researchers present the new details about the enhancement of aragonite precipitation during photosynthesis in Skeletonema costatum in artificial and natural seawater. By directly measuring cell surfaces, it reveals the mechanism of diatom-mediated promotion of CaCO₃ precipitation. Based on this mechanism, it suggests that diatom-mediated calcification can occur in the oceans, which is supported by relevant phenomena. The newly found calcification pathway connects particulate inorganic and organic carbon flux, facilitating the reassessment of marine carbon export fluxes and CO₂ sequestration efficiency. And this discovery may have significant implications for evaluating marine carbon cycling and predicting the impacts of future ocean acidification.

Researchers from the University of Science and Technology of China report the first near-atomic-resolution structure of the human ATR–ATRIP complex bound to clinical inhibitors, providing critical insights into ATR regulation and inhibition.

Efficient recycling of real-world polyester plastics faces challenges such as separating products from impurities and additives, as well as slow hydrolysis at ambient temperatures. Recently, a research paper proposed a synergistic strategy combining photothermal depolymerization and reforming to overcome these limitations. With a Pt/TiO₂ catalyst, both commercial polylactic acid (PLA) granules and real-world PLA products can be efficiently converted into easily separable H₂, CO and CH₄.

The research, spanning five jurisdictions—Delhi (India), Jordan, Rwanda, Shanghai (China), and Wales—reveals that middle-tier instructional leaders fulfill four critical roles: providing accessible support for teachers, fostering collaboration within and across schools, utilizing international and local knowledge, and serving as intermediaries between education ministries and schools. These insights highlight the potential of middle-tier leaders to drive sustainable educational reforms and empower teachers in complex systems.

How can we precisely control microscale surfaces using magnetic fields?

Researchers from Sun Yat-sen University, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and others propose a unified framework for designing magnetically responsive microstructured surfaces (MRMFSs).

Published in International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing, this review outlines advances in structure, fabrication, and actuation, with future potential in micro-manipulation, soft robotics, sensing, and smart materials.

In a paper published in National Science Review, an international team led by Prof. Xuanmei Fan presents a deep learning-based framework that utilizes a novel global database of nearly 400,000 earthquake-triggered landslides to predict landslide probability for any earthquake worldwide with ~82% spatial accuracy in less than one minute without requiring prior local field data.

The formation of humins during lignocellulosic biomass refining is a key factor causing low efficiency and separation challenges. This study systematically analyzes the mechanism and influencing factors of humins formation, proposes targeted inhibition strategies and value-added utilization pathways, offering important guidance for the development of humins chemistry.

A research team led by Associate Prof. WANG Anting from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) proposed a method for multidimensional manipulation of polarization and phase based on a single geometric phase element. They managed to generate and control high-order vector vortex beams (VVBs). The study was published in Laser & Photonics Reviews.

In a study published in National Science Review, a research team led by Professor YAO Huajian from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) revealed the significant impact of tidal forces on the changes in seismic wave speeds in the fault fracture zone by monitoring the temporal changes in seismic wave speeds.

A research team led by Prof. WENG Jianping from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), in collaboration with the team led by Academician John R Speakman from the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology of CAS, discovered that HF can regulate appetite and energy metabolism by increasing the levels of growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) and fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), effectively reducing body weight and improving metabolic health. The study was published in Science Advances.